I know I keep writing that I went on all these patrols. I want you to understand that I was not the designated patrolee. The whole troop was involved. The captain was constantly sending men and vehicles forward to scout. That was our job. “F.T.K. find the Kraut”. After the St. Lo Breakthrough, the Germans retreated very quickly in Northern Europe. It was an orderly retreat. The Germans were masters of defense. With a few artillery spotters and mobile guns, they would effectively slow down our advance. They could pick the terrain to defend, and that was a big plus.
As much as I hated the Nazis, I had to admire their war making abilities. I remember this one time we came under heavy shelling in a forest and suffered some casualties. About an hour later, two Krauts came forward waving a white handkerchief. We suspected that they were the spotters. The mobile guns must have pulled out in a hurry and left them. Eventually, when the bastards stopped retreating, the war changed for the Cavalry. We still moved around with our jeep, armored cars and tanks, but we spent a lot more time on foot.
Right before the “Battle of the Bulge”, we spent 39 days in trenches. Yes, trenches. The Americans had a system of trenches right outside a city called Munchow. A writer once wrote a book about that area after the war called, “The Belle of Munchow”. The city was very beautiful. It did not seem to have suffered much war damage. The Krauts took advantage of the terrain again and set up their defenses on the far side of a steep canyon. No need to shell their own city. They put up some permanent bunkers about a mile away. No trenches, very smart. They would not have to pee on their guns.
Every now and then, we saw a Kraut soldier scurrying around. They must have heard about my lousy marksmanship. At that distance, they were fairly safe. It was a strange sort of truce, and for us it lasted 39 days. Down in the valley, the ever-present Dragon teeth tank obstacles protected them as well as us. Those 60 ton “Tiger Tanks” were awesome. You know there was one disconcerting factor about this unusual confrontation, German soldiers were sneaking through our line to surrender in Munchow.
During WW11, the town Munchow, later named Monschau, sitting on a vital road network, was a point of great tactical importance in the opening phase of the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 as the northernmost point of the battlefront.
Our stay in the trenches was pleasant. No matter how harsh the conditions were on the cliff, we had that one day in town to look forward to. I remember going into a tailor shop to have chevrons sewn onto my uniform and got to talking to the ‘Schneider’. He spoke a little English. He went on to tell me how he hated the Nazis. I questioned that statement and said to him, “If the Germans attack tomorrow and reoccupy Monschau, would he go back to Hieling Hitler again?” he said two words that convinced me he wouldn’t “I’m Jewish!”
A couple days after we pulled out of Monschau. During the Battle of the Bulge, the Germans did attack in this area. I wonder whatever happened to the little Schneider.